Tough week and moving forward

 This last week has been really rough.  A fairly close friend of the family died of complications of COVID.  It's the closest person that I know that has died of the disease.  I know many who have had it and recovered.  I've been praying for quite some time now for recovery, but that is not what God chose and it's been a bit hard coming to terms with it.  I was someone my age and I think that is what is hardest.  I know I will see them again and that does make it easier, but wow....  The service was on my birthday so I'm feeling my age even more so these days.  

Sprout's first football game was last week and it went fairly well, but the teenage drama started right after that.  She was so upset she wanted to quit.  I talked a bit with the coach and she discussed things with the girls and things are better.  We also talked about this particular girl and the drama she creates.  My biggest suggestion was to just not leave herself open to being bullied.  Be polite, but don't have conversations with her.  There are others on the squad to spend more time with that are better influences that will help make her a better cheerleader and therefore make the squad better.  After all that is the goal.  It is just another situation to work through in public school.  There was a girl at her old school that acted very similarly and Sprout had several run ins with her.  We talked at how she had successfully handled that situation.  The drama of middle school is tiring frankly.  

My tomatoes are finely starting to ripen and I canned a bunch yesterday.  The new stove that I got to can on outside was fantastic.  It was so easy and I could have easily used two canners at once which is the goal for the future when I don't work full time.  I need a few more bowls and a larger stock pot for sure.  I think I probably could use some more dishpans as well.  One of my goals is to go through more of my canning stuff and take a better stock.  I can now, but not like I will when I don't work.  I still buy spaghetti sauce and canned carrots and a few other things, but I don't want to buy any of that in the future.  Freezer space is a premium here with the meat we get from her 4H livestock so I try not to freeze a bunch of vegetables.  I've been buying lids when I find them so I'm good with them for now and at least another year.  I'm so looking forward to being able to do this.

Back in the swing of things

 Well school has officially started as well as cheer practice.  Next Monday will be their first game.  Sprout seems to like all her teachers.  That is half the battle with her and school.  If she doesn't care for the teacher and is bored it is a bad combination.  It is one of the struggles we have with a really bright kid.  We've always had this problem, but last it seemed to be magnified with the way school was done with Covid rules.  Back to school night will happen this year so I actually get to meet the teachers.

Her social studies class is actually an AP class.  She didn't know until the teacher walked in the class and she is sooooo excited.  History and social studies is one of her favorite subjects.  I'm so hoping this means good things for her.  One of the joys in parenting a really smart kid is motivation.  She knows she can do it and doesn't really care if you know she can do it.  Part of her testing for her math issues were other IQ tests so we do know what we are dealing with as far as her intelligence.  We've always known, but now everyone who sees her records know too.

One of the things she has done this summer was to take several of the free on-line classes that Hillsdale College offers.  She did this all on her own.  I casually mentioned it to her and it went from there.  She loves doing that and loves searching for other learning opportunities that she can do on her own and at her own pace.  I'm hoping this year that she really starts showing this to teachers and that they will encourage this by offering additional materials/directions for her.  Since I actually get to meet her teachers I'm hoping to foster a bit of a relationship with them more like I did at her private school.  I find if they need something and I can provide it they are more willing to go above and beyond for her.  It's not exactly bribery, but whatever works to get her what she needs.

Because Sprout is an only child I don't want to homeschool her.  She needs the socialization with people that she will encounter in life in general.  Not everyone is smart, a Christian, like us, etc.  Public school provides this for sure.  It was a bit of a shock for her at first.  There was a girl that she didn't hit it off with when she first transferred that is in several of her classes this year.  I told her to give her another chance this year.  She's similar to Madelynn in lots of ways.  I reminded her that God keeps giving us second chances and she should do the same.  I'm not sure how far that will go, but I'm hoping it sinks in.  This is such a difficult age.  I've heard jr. high or middle school is the hardest.  

Back to School

This summer has gone so fast.  I can't believe fall sports have started already and school is next week for us.  Cheer practice started this week and it appears to be going well.  Sprout is one of two calling out the cheers and leading things so that is good.  There are some new girls and several returning girls.  She is really stepping up her game this year and appears to be doing well.

The nights are getting cooler here.  The daytime temps are pretty much the usual, but not overly hot.  My tomatoes are starting to really produce and I'm going to have to start processing them.  I'm hoping to make sauce and paste this year.  I have a couple of different food strainers so I can process most of what is coming out of my garden with ease.  I use a turkey fryer outside with my canner, but this year I'm buying a new one that will handle both canners at once.  It will shorten the time it takes for me to process things.  I'm also trying to get things setup for when I can much more next year.  I'm planning to can as much as I possibly can when I step back from full time work.  It's one way to reduce our food cost and I just think it's healthier.  

I'm starting to plan Christmas presents and budget for that as well, but more on that later.